John Lannan gets the ball for Game 1 of today's doubleheader at Busch Stadium.

OK, let's try this again. After last night's rain, hail and tornado warning in St. Louis, the Nationals and Cardinals will play two today. It's a split doubleheader, with this afternoon's opener preceding tonight's regularly scheduled contest.

So the Nationals are playing their second straight doubleheader, with two days off in between. Don't see that too often. John Lannan and Jake Westbrook, last night's scheduled starters, will pitch the first game. Couple of lineup changes from last night, with Michael Morse and Wilson Ramos sitting this one so they can face lefty Jaime Garcia tonight.

Broadcast info: Both games will be televised on MASN2. Game 1 is on 1500 and 1580 AM, with Game 2 on 106.7 FM only.

I'm not on this trip — heading over to CSN headquarters this afternoon to shoot a couple of video segments, be sure to check the site at 1 p.m. for a live edition of Beltway Baseball — but please keep the conversation going as always. I'll post a new thread later for the second game…

Original has great 'cakes, and REALLY great sausage. But if I'm gonna lay out that much for 'cakes&sausage, I don't wanna pay extra for pure maple!The one on the pike used to charge extra… And then come back and tell me that didn't have any!!! The grocery is right across the street, fer crissake! For awhile, I'd bring in my own 1/2 pint of the good stuff (I know… anal… But if you work in restaurants for a few years, in your youth, it tends to warp your personality, a little…), but eventually, I gave up. Silver Diner does a pretty good job…. Mostly, o do them at home, nowadays. Bisquik, fried up in a lot of bacon grease… Just like Dad used to, camping, on the pump-up Coleman stove.Hehe, sorry….got a little carried away, there.What inning is it, anyway…

Random question… maybe someone can help me. Had someone ask me last evening if there were any Expos still with the Nationals? The only ones I could come up with were Desmond, Balester, and Bernadina, and Livo returning.Is there anyone(s) I am missing. Thanks gang, and Go Nats

Maybe his game jersey is broken, like the BP jersey of that guy in the commercial? That, or he's just having a bad game. (And I can mix up a pretty mean batch myself, Unkyd. Separate the eggs, whip the whites, and they come out nice and fluffy.)Bonus baseball question: What pitcher ate pancakes before his starts, for luck?

Livan was a member of the Expos, but he's technically a returning player as well.On the 40-man, Bernadina has been with the organization since 2001, when he was signed as an amateur free agent by the Expos. He never played for the Expos, though.I think that's it.

Matt Stairs: Not only an Expo, and a Canadian, but he also played in the same OF, for a few games, with Canada's greatest contribution to MLB in the batter's box—-Larrrrrrrrrrry Walker.Hope MS gets a fews hits sooooon!Gooooo Nats!

I hadn't heard that, Ernie!!! Best wishes and good luck to Mrs. Desi!!! He won't be out for long… If Zimm's not back, though, who gets the call up?@NF1: you know… After the Senators left me (aged 12), I never did warm up to the O's… And after Angelos came to town, it turned to downright animosity… So, I'll just be your straight man, for O's lore….

I have no pancake stories, but I read that Desmond and wife are expecting and that he is likely to go on paternity leave any day now. Seems likely that Cora would play short with Bixler called up for a few days, but I imagine there would be some support for Espinosa at short and Cora at second. Or Hariston, Espinosa, Cora. But, I'm wondering if there is a 40 man roster move that needs to be made. Bixler isn't on it is he? Might they bring up Marerro and go short a man in the middle infield for a few days? Or a pitcher….

Unkyd, no problem. I didn't grow up here, and I never followed the O's after moving to the (NoVa) area. When the Nats came to town, I embraced them as my own. I was mainly just grasping for a pancake/baseball connection. Um, batter up?

WOW… I'm speechless….First they got my attention with the suicide squeeze in the second game of the season…. And now a double steal with a steal of home!This is not your old Washington Senators, That's for sure!

Actually this might be the oldest Washington Senators. Isn't this pretty much type of baseball they played before Babe Ruth introduced HR magic to fans? And for some reason, I always think of Danny as Bucky Harris, LOL. Of course I have only read about him.Pujols homers against Lannan, who isn't really efficient today.

Leadoff batter discussion more or less settled? At least for a week, or so?Really wish I was watching this… But no other sport is this good, on the radio. Good guys, like Dave and Charlie, really paint the picture!!

I am guessing our run of SP going at least 6 will be over today when Lannan only goes five. He has thrown about 65 in 3 innings. What happened? He is supposed to have good numbers in STL. Anyways, if he keeps this lead as it is without giving up anymore runs, I can live with his five innings. But that would mean JZ will have to be super again tonight. Go Nats!!!

There has been a fair amount of criticism for Riggleman and Rizzo this winter and spring (particularly among some grumpy NJ posters). But the team that Rizzo built and Riggleman is running certainly looks like they know what they are doing these days.

I don't remember anytime Riggs has let starters go over 100 pitches. I remember Livan went 150 once, but that was under Robinson I think. Most of them are taken out at 99 or 100 something.I would love for our pitchers to go consistently 100+ pitches but Riggs doesn't do that. Lannan already has 75+ pitches. He might be able to get through 6 if he improves.

Wow! I'm loving this old school "small ball" offense. I'm guessing this is what baseball was like pre-Ruth era, as FS mentioned.I love it! Also got to give Riggleman credit. I was down on him to start the season. But these old time plays he's calling are impressive when they work.And the hitters are making them work.Go Nats!

Unser, Brinkman….. I actually had Casey Cox as my PE teacher, in 4th grade! Yep… Those clowns had to work, in the offseason, back when…It was interesting watching French and Hannan playing local celebrity softball almost immediately after they retired …

Lannan's done at 101 pitches. But only five innings. An uneven start for Lannan … made better because of the score … but his pitch count should have plummeted as a result of the score and instead the opposite occurred. Seven hits, 3 walks, 2 homers in five innings. More than enough to lose the game last year … but not this time at least early this year …

I saw at the washingtonpost.com that Riggs would prefer to bring back Lannan on three days rest. He said because their is an off day Monday (3/25), that a minor leaguer starting is out, because he doesn't want the rest of the starters having to much time off between starts. So look for Lannan to be under 100 pitches today.

I forgot it was a day game and didn't get home till bottom of the 4th. I'll watch highlights on game day in the commercials. Thanks for the Nats/Expo history, all.Oh Gaudin. Oy oy oy.P.S. Thanks for the tip about Cracker Barrel pancakes. Just this past week I was wondering about that. In other news, in OUR stadium, the Cubans they sell behind section 115 are pretty darn good.Food. Baseball. The two topics I could talk about endlessly,Go Nats!

Can't blame Riggs for putting Lannan in (he handled bottom of the lineup somehow) and then taking him out after giving up another hit.What's happening now is insane. An error by Desi, followed by Gaudin's promising performance. You want to start this guy on Sunday?

I was working in my real estate office when Denny RIddleberger called in. He was a reliever on the Ted Williams managed team. Saw him play minor league ball in Columbus, when they were the Pirates AAA team.

Rodriquez has to be back in less than two weeks. I would say Gaudin has about that long to make good. Slatten at least offers strategic advantage. Broderick offers mop up only, but he has "potential" so Gaudin seems to me to be the guy unless someone gets injured.(Wait, they sell cubans behind 115?)

WOW when offense decided to show up, none of our pitchers wanted to. I don't think anyone pitched a first pitch strike on any batter in this game, including Tyler. I could be wrong but lot of STL at bats started 2-0 or 3-0.I am just glad to win this ball game. Let us hope JZ can reverse his numbers against STL and we can win tonight's game as well. Go Nats!!!

Go Nats! I remember, in past years, having to turn off the TV in the 7th because they Were Absolutely Going To Lose. I don't feel that way now. I bet the don't either. Did Clip pit h too much to come back tonight? We need J Zimmerman to have a career night.I love my Nats. Love 'em. (loving you all too)

Whew, who'd a thunk it would end up that close with the lead that was built in the early innings? Fun to read the thread after the fact and see some of my own in-game reactions mirrored. NatsJack, in particular, mirrored my own commentary on Gaudin. Yeesh.

Also, loved the ovation the local fans gave to Ankiel for his first at-bat. Nice gesture on his part to take out the thank you ad in the local birdcage liner. Oh, and yes, FP, small ball is much, uh, funner.In other news, what happened to Mark's beltway video post?

Desmond turned some amazing plays today on those DPs which helped erase the memory of that error.Also when Stairs looked like he was going to pinch hit FP and Carpenter discussed that Stairs was working on his mechanics to get balls in the air. We had this discussion last week when SteveM diagnosed his mechanics as he was getting on top of the balls. Now interestingly Riggleman said in his postgame news conference Sunday that Stairs hit one on the bat barrel except that was a 2 hopper to 2nd. Glad Stairs has admitted their is Ab issue as I have no idea sometimes what game Riggleman is watching